JANUARY 27-28, FEBRUARY 24-25, MARCH 10-11, 2018 (8:30 am - 6 pm)

Please note it is highly recommended that you have experienced some Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan by attending several classes beforehand. Though open to the public, This course contributes to KRI Level 3 Certification within The Aquarian Teacher™ Training Program. Completion of this course will give you credit towards that program, after you complete Level 1 and 2. It also qualifies for RYT hours with Yoga Alliance and IKYTA CEUs.

Meditation is the process of training the Mind to serve the Soul, to claim our true identity. With Meditation we develop the Royal Command of the Self to guide our lives, so we can experience joy, happiness, peace and bliss on a consistent basis, not just when something good happens to us. And dive in deep with the 21 Stages of Meditation course!

We are delighted to be offering this outstanding course at Spirit Rising Yoga Center in Chicago, for anyone who wishes to learn how to meditate, and/or deepen their meditative experience. This course fosters a deeply personal experience of your Infinite Nature. Meditate deeply and give yourself to the transformational process that will free you to be YOU—stronger, clearer, and more radiant!

Why 21 Stages?

There are stages? The real question is why do we practice meditation in the first place. Happiness. Fulfillment. Refinement of our consciousness. By articulating and describing each of the 21 Stages of Meditation, Yogi Bhajan has captured in words the states of consciousness that are traversed by those who use the power of meditation to enhance their lives in their pursuit of happiness, fulfillment, and peace of mind.

The 21 Stages of Meditation course gives you the tools and experiences to deepen your meditation and come to a profound understanding of your Self. As you progress through three meditative “Journeys” towards Realization, the class explores the natural structure and qualities of each of the 21 stages.

The experiences of one stage support the progress in the next stage. You can explore any of the stages on your own as an individual practice as the benefits of each meditation stands on its own. However, the power of practicing an entire Journey comes from the intensity of the practice when done in sequence, within a concentrated period, and in a community of practitioners.

“My idea to teach you my dear ones is that you may not have to go to Tibet to find a Lama to learn it. My entire intention is that some fortunate ones who are seeking God-consciousness and realization as a human being should be provided this technical know-how. It is not difficult to reach that consciousness and be creative while living in this seen world while relating to the Unseen. There is nothing very special which you have to relate to. The techniques you need are all very simple processes and are in this body and mind. All we have to do is condition this lock and unlock the system for your energy and consciousness.” - Yogi Bhajan

Who can take this course?We’ve received a lot of questions about who can come—and the answer is anyone! We suggest that you have some experience with Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.

I heard this is a Level 3 course?Level 3 is a powerful transformational experience and the completion of this course will be component of the requirements for the Meditative Mind Pillar of Level 3. If you are interested in pursuing Level 3, you can already fulfill that requirement now, (even if you have not yet completed (or even started!) Level 1 or Level 2). That is how unique and extraordinary this course is!

Have you just started taking Kundalini Yoga?This course is a powerful foundation for deepening your understanding of meditation as taught by Yogi Bhajan.

Are you a Kundalini Yoga Teacher?You will amazed at how this course will deepen your own practice.

Have you been practicing and teaching Kundalini Yoga for years?Long time Teachers have said over and over what a great course 21 Stages was for them. This course will reawaken your passion for the practice and provide the groundwork for a new understanding of how far you have come and where you want to go.

Do you practice a different style of meditation?This course will broaden the scope of what you understand meditation to be, and open new doors of perception in your life and in your practice. As mentioned above, it would be useful to attend a Kundalini Yoga class to have a better grasp of the approach.

What do you mean by “First Journey”?The entire 21 Stages of Meditation course consists of 3 “Journeys” or meditative processes. Each Journey is taught over a 2-day course.

Do I have to take the Journeys in order?Not necessarily. This course is designed to be taken repeatedly as you continue on your journey of meditation and contemplation. You may take the Journeys in any order and retake them as often as you like. If your schedule allows participation in only 1 or 2 of the Journeys at this time, you may enroll in the third Journey when this course is offered in the future.

I’ve taken this Journey before, should I take it again?Yes! Each time you approach these powerful meditative practices you are in a different place in your life and will have different experiences and insights. This is a course that was created to be repeated.

The focus of the first Journey is to recognize, experience and crystallize the Self. The blocks are encountered in the first four stages: upset, boredom, irritation and frustration. The first ascent starts when we have a sense of our Self, separate from all the commotions, emotions and sensory impulses. we can begin to focus and recognize a still point, a nucleus within, which is the Self. It is this crystallized sense of Self that is needed for consciousness to work.

Stage 5 – FocusMeditation: For Focus and an Alert Mind

Stage 6 – AbsorptionMeditation: For Absorption in the Crystal Being

Stage 7 – Experience and Crystallize the SelfMeditation: To Experience and Crystallize the Self

In this second Journey, the initial challenge is to develop a sensitivity to the Self, as we engage in relationships and participate in life. When we take the seed of our Self and our identity and project it into the world, it expands.

We cultivate the meditative skill to merge with our projection, yet still be able to distill our Self from the various roles we play. In this way, this second Journey prepares us to maintain our integrity in action and to find the stillness within every action.

In this final Journey, we recognize all that we are as the formless presence of the infinite Self. We open the dimension of our Transcendent Self. This Journey requires us to go beyond differences and similarities into reality and unity. By forging an elevated identity with our infinite Self within our finite self, we become spontaneous, creative and flexible. We excel in this infinite game of the soul.

Love, compassion and kindness become the core of our experience. At the peak of this Journey we become the nothing within the center of all that is. The sacred space opens to intuitive presence, which serves innocence, loves life, blesses all, and praises the Infinite, the all within All. You become you, we become realized human beings.

21 Stages of Meditation BookThe "21 Stages of Meditation" book contains the meditations that will be covered during the course. It is not included in the course fee, but we strongly encourage you to order the book to support your participation in the program. If you wish to purchase it, place your order through Spirit Rising Yoga for $35, a 20% discount off retail price. Please place your order by 12/15/17, info@spiritrisingyoga.org.